I clenched my jaw. "Fine. You want a host? You've got one."
Pause.
"Host acceptance acknowledged."
"But I want to know…" I looked up at the shimmering sky. "Am I your first host?"
"No."
Figures.
"Then listen. I'll be your host, but I don't bend to your rules. I make my own. First off—you're not just a reproductive system anymore. You're a farming system also. We're going to grow, build, conquer. You got that?"
"Invalid modification request."
"Don't start with me. You know damn well how long it takes to 'evolve' through pregnancies, so we're doing this my way. My beginner's package is going to be different."
"Your beginner package will be identical to all past hosts. No difference."
"Then I'd rather die. I didn't escape becoming a sex slave in one world to end up as one here without a fight."
The system hesitated — a low static hum flickering through the air.
"Alternative offer: host will be granted strength and wisdom to survive. However… resources will be on a loan basis."
"Yo, yo, yo—loan? Fine. I'll take it." I smirked. "But one more condition. You don't pressure me to get pregnant for six months. Got it?"
"Request denied."
"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be?" I glared at the empty air. "Then fine, System. I'll spend those six months ducking everything with a dick in a hundred-mile radius. Your move."
"Host language: inappropriate."
"Then adapt."
Silence. A faint digital hum pulsed in the back of my head. Then—
"…Negotiation pending. Temporary adjustment: reproductive missions postponed for six cycles. Loan terms apply."
My lips twitched. "Knew you'd see reason."
"Warning: host overconfidence detected."
"Yeah? Get used to it."
The sky flickered. Data streamed through the air in glowing lines.
"Initializing Farming-Reproductive Hybrid System… unstable protocol detected… system adapting…"
A soft light wrapped around me, buzzing against my skin like static.
If this was hell, at least I'd make it my empire.
"Host has no choice in mating with only one partner at a time when you have more than one partner."
"Yo—so you're saying you want me having threesomes or foursomes or something?"
"If that is how you see it. Know that you have high fertility, strength equal to the physique of a seasoned warrior, the wisdom of a leader, and the business strength of a tycoon from your world. You can give birth to multiple babies in succession."
"Hold up. Multiple babies? Hell no. I'm not walking around with a bump so big I can't see my own feet. And is that even normal here? Because where I come from, twins are rare — not that rare, but rare enough."
"In this world, multiples of two are the usual not more."
"Then why the hell would you want me to draw unwanted attention?"
"Having many pups ensures you earn points faster."
I folded my arms. Yeah, no. I don't want unnecessary attention.
A pause. And why reproduction system, anyway?
"Because in this world, females exist in the ratio of one to fifty. They are respected based on their fertility. The more pups you bear, the greater your status."
I went still.
Then shook my head. "No. I'll have one child with one father per pregnancy. No more, no less."
"Host is being too difficult. Initiating denial of host status."
"That's my last request," I said sharply. "You don't want me to attract danger early. If anyone forces me, I'll end it myself. Everything I'm doing is just to survive a world I know nothing about. You have to understand where I'm coming from."
Silence. Then, a soft hum.
"If I accept these terms, you must find a powerful beast husband and bear his cub. The stronger the beast, the higher your survival chances."
I sighed. "Fine. I'll do that. I promise."
"Also, for your greed and stubbornness, Host, I will not be generous with your rewards. This will make things fair."
Lines of text shimmered in the air before me:
Race: Lion
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Fertility: Excellent
Beginner's Package: None
Debt: 100,500 points
My eyes widened. "One hundred thousand—wait—how many zeros is that?!"
I clenched my fists, forcing the panic down. "No. I brought this on myself. I wanted control, now I'll own it."
"Host may now name the system."
I thought for a moment. "Can I name you... Alexie? Sounds close to an AI I used to know."
"Noted. I will be your Alexie from now on."
Silence fell — the first real silence since my death. The world around me felt enormous, endless. Grass whispered against my legs; the wind smelled of wild earth.
For the first time, I realized how unprepared I really was. My demands had bought me freedom — but also debt, danger, and isolation.
Still, I wasn't backing down.
I looked at the fading light on the horizon and whispered, "Let's make this work."
I pressed my fists together, a small sign of fighting spirit.
Even if this world breaks me, it'll remember my name.